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2008/3/18

Moderate consumption of fish can reduce the risk of suffering mental disorders by 30%

The habitual consumption of fish as a principle source of omega-3 fatty acids can offer protection against neuropsychiatric disorders, according to a study carried out at the University of Navarra, with the framework of the SUN Project (the University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). Specifically, the study revealed that persons who consume fish on at least a moderate basis reduce their risk of suffering these disorders by 30%.

"Up to now, we knew the benefits of this nutrient for patients with coronary pathologies or with high levels of triglycerides. Some recent research has evaluated its role in the proper functioning of the nervous system, and in psychiatric pathologies such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders and depression" stated Miguel Ángel Martínez González, one of the directors of the research project, along with three other professors of the School of Medicine: Francisca Lahortiga, Felipe Ortuño and Almudena Sánchez-Villegas.

The authors, who work in the departments of Psychiatry and of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Navarra and the University of Las Palmas, tracked the eating habits and health of 7,903 university graduates over the course of two years. During this period, 173 new cases of depression were detected, along with 335 medical diagnoses of anxiety disorders.

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression

The study explained the inverse relationship between fish and the risk of suffering mental disorders as a result of several biological mechanisms: omega-3 fatty acids are present in the central nervous system, and are involved in processes related to interneuronal communication and nerve impulses.

On the other hand, while it was observed that moderate consumption of fish reduced the risk of mental disorders, it was also observed that a very high consumption of seafood, together with an increase in intake during the period of observation, was associated with a higher probability of suffering depression. “A possible cause,” noted Dr. Martínez González, “is due to the mercury which is present in fish, which can provoke neurological damage. There is evidence that this substance has negative effects on the frequency of Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, autism and depression.”

Nevertheless, he added that this hypothesis “requires confirmation and more research”, and did not discard the possibility of other causal factors.